Calvin Kibling (Cal) Keyler

Sharon, Vt. — Calvin Kibling (Cal) Keyler was born Feb. 21, 1937, in Glen Ridge, N.J. He was the son of Fay and Jennie McCoy Keyler of Bloomfield, N.J. Cal died at home in Sharon on Tuesday, June 3, 2014.

Cal graduated Bloomfield High School as Vice President of his class of 1955. He entered Brown University in Providence, R.I. and majored in English Literature and Creative Writing. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1959.

Cal was active in the sport of Track and Field and was elected Captain or Co-Captain of his teams in both high school and college. He has been the holder of several records and in 1991 was inducted into the Bloomfield, N.J. Athletic Hall of Fame.

Cal served his country by entering the United States Navy in 1959 and progressed the rank of Lieutenant. His duty at sea included operations in the Red Sea, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the “Bay of Pigs” invasion in 1961. Following his active duty he returned to New Jersey and joined O.S. Tyson Company, Inc. an advertising agency in New York City where he was later named Vice President.

In March 1960, Cal married Joanne Eckert of Bloomfield, N.J. at the United States Naval Base in Norfolk, Va. They have two daughters, Karen Jean Price of Sharon, Vt. and Laura Jane Hallett of Brunswick, N.Y. They are proud grandparents of Joseph Marchese, Jeanne Marie Hallett and Caroline Fay Price. In 1972, the Keylers moved from New Jersey to Sharon and became the owners and operators of The Columns Motor Lodge and Woodcraft & Gift Shop. Cal’s grandmother, Jennie May Fay was born in Sharon and his great grandfather, Luther C. Fay fought with the Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War.

Cal has been active in the community and served in many capacities. He served as Justice of the Peace for more than 20 years, as a member and chairman of the Sharon School Board for 14 years and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chester Downer Endowment Fund for 30 years. He also served as Trustee of the Pine Hill Cemetery Association and as Vice President of the Sharon Cable TV Association. Cal is a member of the Sharon Congregational Church, the Sharon Historical Society and the Sharon Republican Committee.

In other civic activities Cal is a member and Past Commander of the Military Order of World Wars. He is also a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The Mayflower Descendants Society.

In Freemasonry, Brother Cal was raised to the degree of a Master mason on Nov. 26, 1961 in Bloomfield Lodge #40 in Bloomfield, N.J. He joined the Sharon Lodge #105 in Sharon on Feb. 3, 1975. He served as Master in 1980 and 1981 and currently is Secretary having served continuously for 32 years. In other areas of the Masonic Family, Brother Cal is a member of The Scottish and York Rite, Cairo Shriners, The Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Past Patron of Forest-Unity Chapter #82 in Sharon and Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of Vermont in 1997. In 2000, he was appointed to serve General Grand Chapter on the Eastern Star Journal Committee and form 2000 to 2003 he was chairman of the National Vision Committee Team. He also holds membership in the Edward J. Wildblood, Jr. Vermont Lodge of Research. Brother Cal is a Past President of the Green Mountain Chapter of the National Sojourners, Inc. and is a Past Commander of the John Stark Camp, Heroes of ‘76. Brother Cal has received the DeMolay Legion of Honor and serves as Treasurer of the Vermont Preceptory. He is also a recipient of the Grand Cross of Color from Vermont Rainbow and is a member of the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill.

In Grand Lodge Brother Cal served as District Deputy Grand Master, District #1 in 1992-93, was elected Grand Senior Deacon in 1994 and served as Grand Marshal during 1995 and 1996. From 1997 to 1998 he served as Grand Sword Bearer. Brother Cal has served the Grand Lodge of Vermont on many committees, principle among them; the general committee of the Grand Lodge Bi-Centennial in 1994 as Chairman of Public Relations, the Committee on Internal Communications and Public Relations and as co-chair of Vermont’s first Grand Master’s One-Day Class in 2001. He was the recipient of the Vermont John Barney Medal in 1998 and the Vermont Philip C. Tucker Medal in 2009.

In June, 1999, Brother Cal was appointed Grand Lecturer by then Grand Master, Brother Earl J. Washburn. He was elected Grand Junior Warden, Grand Senior Warden and in June 2005 was elected Deputy Grand Master. In 2008, he served as Chairman of the Time and Place Committee at the National Conference of Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries held in Kentucky.

In June, 2007, Cal was elected and installed as the 82nd Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, F. & A. M. During his term as Grand Master he was the recipient of the Christopher Champlin Medal for outstanding Masonic Achievement from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and the Daniel Coxe Medal from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey for distinguished service to the craft. He was also awarded an honorary membership in African Lodge #459, F. & A. M. of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. From 2009 to 2012, Brother Keyler served on the Board of Trustees of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.

During his leisure time Cal enjoyed being with family, playing golf, fishing and working in his flower gardens.

A funeral service will be held at the Sharon Congregational Church in Sharon, Vermont on Sunday, June 8, 2014, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Duane Brown officiating. The burial will be held at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to either: Sharon Lodge #105, c/o Leon Sheldon, Sharon, VT 05065-6615 or Masonic Charities of Vermont-CARE Program, c/o Palmer Martin, Grand Secretary, 49 East Road-Berlin, Barre, VT 05641-5390. A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vt.